Improvement in bee-hives



To all whom it 'may concern.-

lttt tant stent (dimite.

GEORGEv W. LOWRY, 0F LAVANSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent Afa-96,712, dated November 9, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN BEE-RIVES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the saine. Y

nexed drawing, making part of this specification,

wherein- Figure l is a vertical section, at the line y y, oi' said hive, in its ordinary closed position, and

Similar letters denote the same parts.

My invention is devised with the object in view of rendering the hive sufficiently strong and iirm for handling or transportation, and at the same time give easy access to the top and three sides of the hive for observing the bees, removing the frames with the comb, facilitating swarming, and removing moths and insects or worms; that are injurious tothe bees.

I make my hive with a vertical front, rmly con# nected with the bottom, so that these parts will sustain all the other portions of the hive.

I hinge the three swinging sides to the vertical front piece, and also employ hinged swinging sashes within the sides, and a removable top, set upon a base that is hinged to the front.

By this constructionl the combs can be examined on both sides without removal from the hive, the amount of bees can be determined, the progress of the brood, or the number or existence of queen cells, so as to facilitate artificial swarming, thus enabling `the apiarist to attend to the bees with greater facility than heretofore.

In the drawinga is the front of the hive, firmly united to the bottom b, and these parts are still further strengthened by the side pieces a a and top piece b. l

Io the front edge of the stationary top-piece b', the top p of the -hive is hinged, as'at q, and above this is the removable cover v', setting over the boxes s and t, that are provided-with the openings u r, as usual, for the bees.

In the top are the ventilating holes, I() and 12, covered with wire gauze.

At the vertical angles of the front a, I attach the swingingjsides c e, by means of hinges, 1,3, and the back d is hinged at 2 to the side c, and a hook, at 4, unites the swinging sides, and allows of their being opened easily for inspecting the combs.

I prefer also to employ the interior sashes f y h, hinged Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the same, at the line at 5 and 6, to thefront a. rIhe sashes g h arehinged at 7, and a hookis provided at 8.

By this construction, the progress of building the comb can be observed without disturbing the bees, or access can be given to the interior, if desired.

In consequence of the three sides being iitted to swing, access is given to all parts of the hive, for the purpose before named, and the top p, of the hive, be-

ing also hinged,-greatly facilitates access for removing the comb.

A The frames m are supported by eyes n on one edge,

passing over hooks that project from the back of the.

front a.

Projecting pins, at o keep the frames at equal distances apart, and a hook, 14, attached to the bottom b, and taking an eye on one of the frames on, steadies them when the saslies f g h, with the glasses t lare swung back to give access to the frames. Eithenone of the trames may be removed from the back or from the top ot' the hive by lifting the eyes n off the hooks.

The frames in have diagonal bars lm', which stiffeu said frames, and also insure the comb being made straight, especiallyvif the hive is set at a slight inclination, the'back of the hive being placed the highest, the bees will commence the comb at the highest point where the diagonal bar m unites with the frame.

The entrance for the bees is made at fw, and a. ventilator and cover are provided at 9.

This hive I have found to be superior to those before employed in the particulars before set forth.

The top board p heilig hinged to and sustained by the stationary front a b', 'allows the boxes s t, and top p fr, to remain in position when the sides c d e or sashes j' g h are swung hack.

I do not claim the swinging sides or sashes, as these have before been used.

I claim, as my inventionl. lhe top p, hinged at q, to the front edge of the stationary front a b', in combination with the swinging sides c e, and the removable cover r, enclosing the boxes s t, but allowing easy access to the same and to the flames m, from above, asset forth.

2. rIhe pins oo, and hook 14, combined with the l hinged frames m in., for retaining said frames in position, as specified. h

In witnesswhereof, I have hereunto set my signature, lthis 23th day oi'June, A. D. 1869.

G. IV. LOW'RY.

iVitnesses:

ELIJAH GHoRrENiNG, G. M. PILE. 

